Table of Contents
- 1 Argentine grit
- 2 The match sheet
- 3 Interviewee 2: I have to give credit where it’s due; TLM Volley adapted really well. They found their rhythm and capitalized on our mistakes. Their resilience in turning the match around was impressive, and it pushed us to dig deeper in our own performance, even when the odds were against us.
The Tourquennois continue their journey in the European Cup (photo CEV)
TLM Volley qualifies for the 1/8 finals of the CEV Challenge Cup after its 3-2 victory against Panathinaikos in the return match played at Stab de Roubaix. Already winner in the first leg in Athens, Tourcoing confirms its current superiority in France on a European level. The Northerners won by forcing after having lost the first two rounds.
The first leg in Greece lasted 141 minutes. The return match was even longer: 154 minutes with the same score, 3-2, for TLM which beat Panathinaikos again and thus qualified for the 1/8 finals of the CEV Challenge Cup. But it was hard.
The “grazers” in fact lost the first two sets, by a close score of 23-25 (in 36 minutes) and 22-25 (35 minutes). But this TLM version with Argentinian sauce definitely has the grinta in it. Under the leadership of the Latino trio, the telemists will then begin an incredible “comeback”. This in front of a public who will wake up and heat up the Stab after having first resigned themselves to defeat.
Argentine grit
Pablo Koukartsev (23 points) will give blow for blow to the Dane of Pana Rasmus Nielsen (22 points). Simon Roehrig sets an example in the block. And Tom Lavigne shines on serve (3 aces). At the end of a suspenseful tie-break, the smuggler Amir Tizi-Oualou concluded victoriously on the 2nd match point.
france.fr/wp-content/plugins/complianz-gdpr/assets/images/placeholders/twitter-minimal.jpg" class="cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet" data-lang="fr">🔥 The competition continues 🤯
⚔ Big match for the team yesterday for qualification for the 8th of the CEV Challenge Cup ⚔
⏳ We will announce the opposing team this evening 👊#WeAreTLM pic.twitter.com/udyY0XAPQl
— Tourcoing Volley (@TLMVolleyBall) November 20, 2024
In front of an overjoyed audience, thrilled by this enormous reversal of the situation, TLM won 3-2 against Panathinaikos and thus qualified for the 1/8 finals of the CEV Challenge Cup. Tourcoing will face a European big name: the Polish club Lubin, with its world star Wilfredo Leon.
It should also be noted that the Belgian neighbors of Menen, also qualified, will face CSKA Sofia at the same stage of the competition.
The match sheet
TLM Volley – Panathinaikos Athens: 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-13)
1/16th finals return of the CEV Volley Challenge Cup 2025
Roubaix Stab Velodrome. 1,405 spectators.
Arbitres: Tungay Kandemir (Turquie), Tajama Krandar Sandl (Croatie).
Tourcoing LM Volley: Loubeyre (libero), Tizi-Oualou (4 points), Lavigne (3), Luengas (15), Roehrig (cap, 7), Hutcheson, Koukartsev (25), Martinez Franchi (17), Parkinson (7). Coach: Dorian Rougeyron.
Panathinaikos Athens: Kasampalis, Elgert, Gasman (13 points), Petreas, Nielsen (24), Foulgidis (18), Fragkos, Kvalen (8), Chandrinos (libéro), Protopsaldis (18). Coach: Dimitrios Andreopoulos.
Interviewee 2: I have to give credit where it’s due; TLM Volley adapted really well. They found their rhythm and capitalized on our mistakes. Their resilience in turning the match around was impressive, and it pushed us to dig deeper in our own performance, even when the odds were against us.
Welcome to the World Today News, and thank you for joining us today. Can you please introduce yourselves and provide us with some context on your involvement in the CEV Challenge Cup match between TLM Volley and Panathinaikos?
Interviewee 1: Hi, my name is Tom Lavigne, I am a setter for TLM Volley, and this was my second season with the team. Despite being a relatively young team, we have shown great resilience and determination in our recent matches, especially in the comeback against Panathinaikos in the CEV Challenge Cup.
Interviewee 2: Hello, my name is Rasmus Nielsen, and I’m a middle blocker for Panathinaikos. It was an intense match against TLM Volley, and we had the lead initially but unfortunately couldn’t hold on. We played a good game tonight but unfortunately lost.
World Today News: Thank you for joining us. Let’s start with the match details. Can you provide some insights into the first leg in Greece and the following return match in France? How did your team approach the second leg knowing you had a lead from the first leg?
Interviewee 1: In the first leg, we had played in Greece just a few days before, and it was a long trip. We started slow, but we gathered our energy and managed to secure the win. For the second leg, we knew we were playing at home and had the support of our fans. We wanted to give them a great show and seal the qualification for the next round, so we were more focused and determined.
Interviewee 2: We had some fatigue from the previous game, but we went into the second leg with a positive mindset, thinking we could turn things around. Unfortunately, we lost the first two sets but managed to find our rhythm in the third and fourth sets. Our opponents played well, and we couldn’t keep up with their energy levels.
World Today News: There was quite an interesting comeback from TLM Volley after losing the first two sets. How did they manage to turn things around, and what did you think of their performance?
Interviewee 1: As I mentioned earlier, we had a great team spirit, and we kept encouraging each other. Our coach made some tactical adjustments
